Scarlett tried to log into her social media account to clarify things, but she quickly realized that all her accounts had been blocked from posting.

As she stared at the endless stream of cruel, unfiltered insults filling the screen, it felt as though she'd been thrown back into that dark, suffocating prison.

"Die! You slut! A killer! Trash!"

The words crashed into her mind like a tidal wave, twisting and knotting her nerves. She felt like she was drowning in a vast, bottomless ocean.

The world around her was pitch black, her tears had dried up, her throat raw from crying, yet there was no way out. All she could do was curl up under her blanket, shaking as if trapped in a nightmare.

"Stop yelling at me! I'm not! I swear, I'm not!"

"It hurts! Please stop hitting me! I'm not a killer. I'm begging you, please!"

"Don't touch me! Don't touch me!"

When Calvin and Eugene pulled back the blanket, they were stunned. They had only kept Scarlett locked up for a few days as a lesson. Why had she become so terrified?

Though they didn't understand what was happening, seeing her like this tugged at their hearts.

Eugene asked the housekeeper to make some soup, while Calvin gently pulled Scarlett into his arms. His voice was soft and soothing as he tried to comfort her.

"Scarlett, what's going on? Talk to me."

"We wouldn't have had to do this if you hadn't hurt Sharon. Now that you see where you went wrong, just make sure it doesn't happen again."

Fear overtook Scarlett. She wriggled free from their grip and backed herself into a corner. As she moved, her shirt sleeves and pant legs shifted, revealing a troubling patch of scars that marred her wrists and legs.

When Calvin and Eugene saw the marks, a heavy ache gripped their chests.

"Scarlett, how did you get those scars?" they asked immediately.

Leaning against the wall behind her gave Scarlett a moment of clarity. She pulled the blanket tighter around her, leaving only her distant, empty eyes visible. A bitter laugh escaped her, and tears quietly slid down her cheeks.

"How do you think I got them? Did you think prison was some kind of vacation? That sister of yours—the one you swear is so sweet she wouldn't hurt a fly—sent people after me to make sure I got the full experience—"

Before she could finish speaking, Eugene cut her off, his expression darkening. "Scarlett, are you seriously trying to blame this on Sharon, too? She's just a young woman. How would she even have the resources to come after you? Don't you ever stop and think before you make up these stories?"

Calvin wasn't buying it either, his tone turning cold. "We made sure you were taken care of in prison. Even there, you had it better than most. Why can't you just leave Sharon alone? You're practically the same age. Can't you two figure out a way to get along?"

Scarlett let out a wry laugh, watching how quickly they turned on her. She realized there was no use in trying to explain herself anymore. She pulled the covers back over herself, shutting them out entirely.

Eugene and Calvin were exasperated. Eventually, they pulled her up, insisting a concert would help clear her head.

But it all became clear when they reached the theater and Scarlett spotted the poster by the entrance. This wasn't about taking her to a concert. It was about showing their support for Sharon.

Eugene sighed as Scarlett stopped in her tracks.

"Sharon specifically invited you to her first performance of the year. Don't be so stubborn. Take this chance to move past everything, alright?"

Calvin took her hand and led her into the theater.

The performance lasted three hours, with Sharon mesmerizing everyone on stage, keeping the audience spellbound. Scarlett was the only one who kept her eyes on the floor the entire time.

When the final curtain fell, the room erupted into thunderous applause. Scarlett rose and made her way out.

But just as she reached the entrance, a crowd suddenly surged forward. They pelted her with stones, vegetables, and rotten eggs, their voices boiling with anger as they hurled insults.

"Killer! Everyone, take a good look at the killer!"

"She ran my son over with a car! He might've survived, but she just drove off! She's completely without a conscience!"

Watching the faces contorted with frantic sobs, Scarlett quickly recognized them. They were the family of the person Sharon had accidentally killed all those years ago.

Her gaze immediately shifted to Sharon, who was wearing an unmistakable look of smug satisfaction. Only then did she recall the message Sharon had sent before the concert—the one cautioning her to be careful.

Sharon had taken a life, and now she was using the victim's family to torment her. Didn't she feel any shame, fear, or remorse?

Scarlett stood rooted to the spot as objects continued to hurl toward her. The foul stench of egg yolk clung to her skin, heavy and overwhelming. A rock struck her forehead, splitting the skin and sending blood trickling down.

A flood of curses filled her ears. Her mind went blank as she watched the crowd point at her, hurling accusations.

In her dazed state, she saw Calvin and Eugene rushing toward her, calling, "Scarlett!"

They forced their way through the crowd, clearly coming to her aid. But just a few steps away, they heard someone yell that Sharon had collapsed. Without hesitation, they turned and dashed toward the stage.

They didn't spare a single glance in Scarlett's direction.

It seemed like an eternity before the security guards arrived and took charge, eventually escorting Scarlett away.

She was bruised and battered, her clothes drenched in blood. Her eyes were hollow, lacking any trace of life, and her face was locked in an expression of utter despair.

Huddled in the corner, she clutched her head, her body shaking like a leaf. The guards, having learned she was a killer, were on edge. They shot each other uneasy glances before quickly dispersing.

Soon after, the gatekeeper came by, locked the door, turned off the heat, and left for the night. The lounge was empty now, with only Scarlett left behind.

Back in prison, whenever she was beaten and cried at night, the cruel inmates only made things worse for her. So now, even though the pain sliced through her like a knife, she refused to let a single tear escape.

The night seemed to go on forever. The harsh winter wind found its way through every gap, biting into the bruises on her skin until they cracked open.

All Scarlett could do was curl in on herself, biting down on her hand to stifle the pain, the metallic taste of blood sharp against her tongue.

When morning finally broke, the sound of her phone ringing pulled her from the darkness. Seeing Eamon's name light up the screen was like catching hold of a lifeline, and she hurried to answer.

"Renee, did you get the paperwork finished?"

His voice, calm but tinged with concern, was the final nudge Scarlett needed. The tears she'd fought to keep in all night broke free.

Before she could reply, the door swung open.

A wave of panic rushed through her, the fear of her tormentors returning overtaking her thoughts. Not wanting to drag Eamon into the mess, she ended the call abruptly.

Eugene burst in, the morning light spilling over him, his eyes filled with urgency. "Scarlett, I'm here to get you out of here."

Calvin lifted her into his arms, his voice heavy with an unmistakable sense of pain. "Don't be afraid. We're getting you out of here."

At the sound of those familiar voices, Scarlett's senses slowly returned. But this time, she didn't burst into tears, didn't spill her heart out, or reach out for their reassurance as she would. Instead, she hid her face, shielding herself from the glaring sunlight.

By the time they arrived at the hospital, the doctor had given her a sedative before beginning to treat her injuries.

Scarlett quickly drifted into a deep sleep. Even in her dreams, her face remained tight with fear and anxiety, her fingers clutching the phone so tightly it seemed like she'd never let go.

Seeing how worn out she looked, Eugene and Calvin were hit with a strong wave of guilt. They fell back into the familiar rhythm from their childhood, taking turns sharing stories until she slowly began to relax.

Eugene picked up her phone, which had been buzzing nonstop, and was about to check the caller when Scarlett, suddenly alert, snatched it back.

Noticing the tension in her face and seeing the caller's name flash on the screen, Eugene frowned.

He couldn't stop himself from asking, "Scarlett, who's this Eamon who's been calling you nonstop for the last hour? Why's it coming from an international number? And why do you have him listed as your brother?"

Scarlett's gaze met his.

She was about to answer when Olivia Perkins, Eugene and Calvin's assistant, entered the room. "Mr. Letcher, Mr. Eugene, Ms. Sharon is awake."

At the announcement, Eugene and Calvin rose in unison, quickly heading out while reminding Scarlett to rest and take it easy. As they turned to leave, she felt a surprising wave of relief wash over her.

She answered Eamon's 60th call, telling him she'd just woken up from a nightmare and reassuring him there was no reason to worry. Only then did Eamon, on the other end, exhale in relief.

"I've transferred some money into your account," he said. "Check it out. It's yours to spend however you like. After that, book a private flight and get here. I won't be able to settle until you do."

When Scarlett opened the notification, she saw the deposit of one hundred million. She fell silent for a long moment, struggling to find the right words, before finally whispering a tearful "thank you."

"Don't be silly. Why are you thanking me? You're my only little sister. I'll take care of you for the rest of my life and give you everything I have."

Eamon's laughter came through the line, his tone easing the ache in Scarlett's heart like a breeze. She suddenly realized she was no longer just an orphan taken in by a family. She had a brother now.

Scarlett spent three days in the hospital.

Calvin and Eugene stopped by frequently, though their visits never lasted more than a few minutes before they'd head out again.

They never said it, but Scarlett could tell they were busy looking after Sharon. Every time they came, Sharon would send her snide texts.

"Calvin made fish chowder for me. I told him I couldn't eat it all, so I had him bring the rest to you. You've probably already had a taste of the leftovers, right?

"I dozed off for ten minutes, and Calvin and Eugene went to see you, didn't they? I mean, it makes sense. They're always busy trying to keep me entertained when I'm awake. How would they have time to think about you otherwise?"

Her eyelashes fluttered as memories of the time she'd been hospitalized for appendicitis at 16 came rushing back. Back then, Eugene and Calvin had stayed by her side without leaving for a second.

They took turns blowing on her soup to cool it down before she could drink it. Every time she went for a check-up, they were more nervous than she was, worried something might go wrong.

But everything had changed for good. She no longer needed a boyfriend or a brother like either of them.

On the day she was discharged, Scarlett took care of the paperwork on her own. She saw Calvin, Eugene, and Sharon when she reached the entrance.

Sharon took her hand and offered her a warm smile. "Calvin and Eugene have been so busy trying to find time for me that they've fallen behind on work, Scarlett. How about we all head back together?"

A chill ran through Scarlett at the look on Sharon's face, and she turned her down without hesitation. "I'll take a cab."

Calvin's and Eugene's expressions darkened. "You're not fully recovered yet. Why take a cab? I'll have the driver take you both home."

With that, they shoved Scarlett into the passenger seat and closed the door. After Sharon slipped gracefully into the back, the car pulled away.

The persistent feeling that something bad was about to happen kept gnawing at Scarlett.

When they reached the outskirts of the city, Sharon, who hadn't said a word the entire ride, suddenly ordered the driver to pull over. She sent the driver on his way, slid behind the wheel, and turned to face Scarlett.

"Relax, it's been five years. I've gotten a lot better. I'm not going to get us killed this time," she said.

Cold sweat prickled Scarlett's skin, her hand reaching instinctively for the door handle. But Sharon snapped the locks shut, slammed her foot on the gas, and shot the car forward at full speed.

Scarlett's heart pounded as she clung to the seat, holding on with all her might.

Noticing the fear in her eyes, Sharon chuckled, her voice calm and measured. "You weren't the one who bolted after the crash. What's got you so rattled? Are bad memories coming back? I can see why. Those years behind bars really left their mark on you, didn't they?"

She turned on the car's screen, and a surveillance video appeared on the screen.

When Scarlett saw herself cornered and assaulted in a restroom by a group of people, her eyes went wide with shock. Her own screams—sharp and agonizing—echoed in the car.

It was as if unseen hands had grabbed her, yanking her back to the dark days she'd endured in prison. Against her will, her mind replayed the relentless assault of hard fists and wooden clubs that had battered her without mercy.

The cold wind outside the window brushed against her, and more than once, she had the feeling of being trapped in that walk-in freezer once again.

Scarlett watched the footage on the screen and felt the scars she thought had healed begin to throb faintly. Overcome by a raw, visceral reaction, she started pounding on the car door like someone possessed, desperate to break free.

Sharon seized the chance to turn off the video, unbuckled her seatbelt, and switched on the car's dash cam. The camera immediately captured Scarlett's frantic screams as she begged to be let out.

She gripped Sharon's hand, her nails pressing in hard enough to leave marks. Sharon pretended to be in pain, striking the steering wheel several times.

With a deafening crash, the car slammed into the guardrail on the right side.

Scarlett was thrown violently against the window. A streak of crimson blood trickled down the shattered glass, and her vision blurred as she began to fade in and out of consciousness.

After the blare of sirens, Scarlett barely caught a surge of loud voices. With all the strength she had, she forced her eyelids open and saw Calvin and Eugene.

The two men stood by Sharon's hospital bed, their voices shaking with desperation as they demanded answers from the doctor. "Why hasn't the surgery begun? What if something happens to Sharon?"

"Mr. Letcher, Mr. Eugene, please try to stay calm. The hospital's blood bank is running low, and we only could handle one surgery at the moment. Ms. Sharon's injuries aren't as severe. I strongly recommend we prioritize Ms. Scarlett's surgery. If we don't, her life could be at risk."

Eugene and Calvin exchanged a look, uncertainty flashing in both their eyes.

In the tense silence that followed, a nurse hurried in and announced that the operating room was ready, asking which patient should be taken in first.

Without hesitation, Calvin and Eugene shouted the same name in unison, "Sharon!"

At that moment, Scarlett felt the last of her strength fade away. Her eyelids grew too heavy to keep open, and she allowed herself to sink into the darkness.